The contribution of sustainable management and harvesting timber in maintaining healthy forests has been highlighted by Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore in The Wall Street Journal.
In the article, Mr Moore takes issue with a Greenpeace statement recently that it was better to let forest fires take their course than let forestry companies manage woodlands and remove potential fire hazards, such as a build up of dead trees and undergrowth.
“The active management of forests is necessary to protect human life and property, along with air, water and wildlife,” he wrote.
He said that up to 90 million ha of federal forest land needed urgent management to combat serious fire risks.
He maintained that some activitists “have a mindset that is opposed to forestry”.
“These groups favour reducing the use of wood instead of encouraging its use as a renewable resource.”
The environmentalists had helped created a perception that when wood is used an area of forest is lost for good.
“This is not the case. When we buy wood we send a signal into the market place to plant more trees and produce more wood. Agriculture and urbanization cause forest loss, not forestry.”
Mr Moore also addressed US congressional representatives on the issue and appeared on the Hannity and Colmes nightly news show.
